MVSc

Tbe bacterial quality of75 market beef samples, collected from four different
areas, in and around Thrissur was evaluated. The samples were collected from East
Fort (EF), Mannuthy (MN), Shakthanthampuran market (SM) and West Fort (WF),
areas. Of the samples, 25 belonged to EF, 21 to MN, 17 to SM arid 12 to WF, areas.
All samples were subjected to estimate the total viable-count, coliform, Escherichia
coli. faecal streptococcal and Staphylococcus aureus counts and efforts were also
made to isolate and identify Escherichia coli, Salmonellae and Staphylococcus
aureus.
Analysis of variance test of the data en total viable count revealed no
significant difference between the mean count of the samples from the four areas. The
overall mean total viable count was 7.39 ± 0.06 logto cfu/g. Samples from the MN
area had the highest mean count (7.57 ± 0.11 logto cfu/g) , while samples from WF
area had the lowest mean count (7.19 ± 0.15 log-Io cfu/g). The mean count of the
samples from EF and SM areas were 7.29 ± 0.10 Iogto cfu/g and 7.45 ± 0.12 logto
cfu/g, respectively. Of the total samples examined, 60.00,25.33 and 14.67 per cent of
samples had the count at the level of 107, 106 and 108 cfu/g, respectively.
A highly significant (p<0.01) difference was observed between the mean
coliform count of samples from the four areas. Critical difference test of the count
revealed significant difference between the mean count of samples from EF and MN,
EF and SM, and WF and SM, areas. The overall mean coliform count of the samples
was 4.62 ±0.06 logto cfu/g. The mean coliform count of the samples from EF, WF,
SM and MN, areas was 4.35 ± 0.10, 4.50 ± 0.15~ 4.95 ± 0.12 and 4.76 ± 0.11 logto

cfu/g, respectively. The level of coliform count in 54.67 per cent of samples was
10" cfu/g. The count in 29.33 per cent samples was 105 cfu/g and in 16 per cent it was
103 cfu/g.
No significant difference was observed between the mean Escherichia coli
count of samples from the four areas. The overall mean E. coli count of the samples
,
was 3.52 ± 0.09 10glO cfu/g. The highest mean count (3.67 ± 0.19 10glO cfu/g) was
observed in samples from the SM area, while the lowest (3.28 ± 0.23 10glO cfu/g) was
observed in samples from the WF area. The mean counts of samples from EF and MN
areas were 3.41 ± 0.16 10glO cfu/g and 3.65 ± 0.17 10glO cfu/g, respectively. Of the
,
samples examined, 53.33 per cent had a count at the level of 103 cfu/g. In 26.67 per
cent samples, the count was at the level of 104 cfu/g and in 16 per cent samples, the
count was at the level of 102 cfu/g.
Highly significant (p<0.01) difference was observed between the mean faecal
streptococcal count of samples from the four areas. Critical difference test of the data
revealed significant difference between the mean count of samples of EF and MN,
WF and MN, and WF and SM, areas. The overall mean count of the samples was 4.11
,
± 0.07 10glO cfu/g. The highest mean count (4.38 ± 0.12 10glO cfu/g) was observed in
the samples from MN area, whereas the lowest (3.75 ± 0.16 10glO cfu/g) was s-een in
the samples belonging to WF area. The mean count of samples from EF and.Slvl areas
was 3.93 ± 0.11 10glO cfu/g and 4.28 ± 0.13 10glO cfuig, respectively. The count in
49.33 per cent of the samples was at the level of 103 cfu/g. The count in 42.67 per
ceru and 8 per cent samples was at the level of 104 &.i1d 105 cfuig, respectively.

A significant (p viable count and faecal streptococcal count, coliform and Escherichia coli counts and
coliform and faecal streptococcal counts. A positive but non-significant correlation
was observed between total viable count and coliform count, and between E. coli and
faecal streptococcal counts. The correlation between total viable count and E. coli
count was negative and non-significant.
Of the 75 samples, 98.67 per cent showed the presence of Escherichia coli.
From these samples, a total of 185 isolates were identified as E. coli. Of these, 91.35
per cent were identified as E. coli biotype I and 8.65 per cent as biotype 11.
Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus could not be isolated from any of the
samples.
Cent per cent of the samples examined in the study, conformed to the
standards prescribed for Salmonella, by the International Corrunission on
,
Microbiological Specifications for Foods, while only 25.33 per cent met the total
viable count limit.